SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate passed a number of measures to address the issue of sexual harassment in the capital, including a resolution from Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake) to create the Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Awareness and Prevention.

“While the legislation passed today to address the issue of sexual harassment at the Capitol is a step in the right direction, it's important that we take a long-term approach to change the culture and eliminate sexual harassment,” Bush said. “The Task Force on Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Awareness and Prevention will allow a diverse group of individuals to take a deeper look the problem and come up with meaningful reforms to really make a difference going forward.”

The task force will be made up of members of the Senate and individuals from statewide associations representing women or working to advance civil rights. The task force will conduct a comprehensive review of the legal and social consequences of sexual harassment and discrimination, and will make recommendations on how to combat them in Illinois.

“The creation of this task force will ensure that the votes taken today are just the beginning of the conversation, and that we aren't just checking off boxes to say we took action on the issue,” Bush said.

The task force will hold its first meeting no later than December 15, 2017.

SPRINGFIELD – Lake County residents whose property was damaged during July’s floods could receive an income tax credit of up to $750 under a measure introduced today by Senator Melinda Bush (D-Grayslake).

“The flooding that occurred this summer cost Lake County residents thousands of dollars,” Bush said. “While some individuals have received insurance reimbursements, many are still waiting on the money they need to rebuild. This tax credit would provide much-needed relief to flood victims who have lost so much.”

Senate Bill 403 allows a natural disaster income tax credit of up to $750 in counties where a state disaster proclamation was issued in July. Individuals must own property and must have reported property damage to the appropriate authority in order to qualify for the tax credit.

Individuals who received a reimbursement from an insurance company are not entitled to the tax credit.

Over the weekend, more than a dozen ATM skimmers were found in Chicago and another one was discovered in Libertyville.

An ATM skimmer is a card reader placed over the ATM's real card slot. When you put your card in an ATM, the skimmer steals your card information. One way to make sure you don't become a victim of an ATM skimmer is to pull at protruding parts like the card reader and keypad. If you're able to remove part of the card reader or keypad, it's likely a skimmer.

Also, make sure to always cover the keypad when you're typing in your PIN. ATMs with skimmers usually have small cameras attached that record users' PINs.

Since 1998, when the Zion Nuclear Power Plant was decommissioned, the city has suffered through financial hardships in lost property tax revenues and the stigma of storing hazardous spent nuclear fuel rods on its lakefront.

In March 2016, an intergovernmental agreement was struck between the city, Zion Township, the Zion Park District, the Zion-Benton Township High School District 126, and the Zion-Benton Public Library District seeking the removal of the waste or funding for storage.

At that time, it was disclosed that legislation was being developed to address the issues. The STRANDED (Sensible, Timely Relief for America’s Nuclear Districts’ Economic Development) Act, the proposed legislation, was announced during an Oct. 1 press conference which brought U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Rep. Brad Schneider (D-10th), state Sen. Melinda Bush (D-31st) and Zion Mayor Al Hill to the plant site.

The pending bill will be introduced in the Senate by Duckworth, and the House by Schneider, although no timetable has been set for submission and consideration.

“It will be presented soon,” said Steve Kirsch, communications director for the Schneider office. “We’re having very productive discussions with Republicans to build bi-partisan support. The legislation is written, and it is aimed at economic relief.”

The bill would provide communities such as Zion with $15 per stored kilogram of stored nuclear waste in the form of impact grants, of which, Zion has 65 casks containing 1,020 metric tons in spent fuel rods that equates to nearly $15 million per year. The bill would also create a task force to identify assets in the designated community, provide incentives such as tax credits for existing “New Markets” credit eligibility, and reviving an expired tax credit for first-time homebuyers purchasing a home there.